High blood pressure: It’s known as the “silent killer” for a reason. One in three adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure – that equals 68 million Americans who are at a greater risk of heart disease and stroke, … Continue reading →

Although the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has been proven to be an incredibly valuable asset for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) emergencies not all SCA is due to a shockable rhythm. According to a recent study about %75 of SCA is non-shockable. This means it … Continue reading →

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Reviews

WOW! Jason and his team were incredibly efficient. But efficiency doesnt set the bar. Excellent people skills does, and an incredible sense of humor. At 8 o clock in the morning, Jason had my coworkers and I in stitches! Out of all the CPR trainings I’ve been to, his was the most engaging and definitely the most interesting. Thanks Jason! You set the bar! Unbeatable, overall.

About Us

We provide AHA certification and recertification in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use, and First Aid certification classes for healthcare providers and lay rescuers. Since 2009, Above Bar CPR has served Santa Cruz and Monterey counties as a designated American Heart Association® (AHA) Training Center.

We offer training and education programs for medical centers, hospitals, schools, businesses and nonprofits, as well as for individuals of all ages. Above Bar CPR also serves as a resource hub for instructors, disseminating the latest research in CPR protocol, AHA policies and cardiac science.

With more than 4,000 BLS and ACLS training sessions under our belt, Above Bar CPR is the leading AHA training service in the Santa Cruz, Aptos, Soquel, Capitola, Monterey, and Scotts Valley region. We have students traveling from Los Gatos, San Jose, Campbell, Santa Clara, Gilroy, Morgan Hill and as far as San Francisco.

Above Bar CPR’s unique combination of passion and education creates a delivery style that doesn’t just train – it educates. Our instructors aren’t just chosen for their experience, but for their dynamic teaching style, too. Our small class sizes allow for one-on-one attention, a format that leads to high skill competency and student engagement. We want each Above Bar CPR student to feel confident and proficient in their new skill set, so we provide personalized support to every student, regardless of experience level.

Our commitment to our students doesn’t end at graduation. Our comprehensive program design means that we track our students’ training records and keep them updated with the latest science and guidelines.

My Story

My interest in teaching CPR began when I was just 16. My brother had brought his two-year-old son over to visit; all of the adults were in the kitchen laughing, talking and enjoying each other’s company. Though it was the middle of winter, I stepped outside into the backyard for a minute. My family had a pool, but we never used it – the water was actually green from lack of maintenance. I’m still not sure why I glanced at our neglected pool, but when I did, I noticed that something had disturbed the water.

When I looked in to the murky water, I was shocked to see my tiny nephew curled at the bottom. I jumped in and pulled him out, but he was motionless. I had no CPR training and I was panicking. As I screamed for help and carried my nephew toward the house at a run, he began to cough and expelled the water from his lungs.

We were lucky that day – if my nephew had been in the water for a minute longer, the outcome would have been tragic. That near-miss clearly illustrated the importance of CPR training and ignited a spark that propelled me toward a career in public safety. Years later, while working as a firefighter, I volunteered to instruct public safety classes. That’s where I discovered my calling — training others in CPR and first aid — and the inspiration behind Above Bar CPR took shape.

Today, my passion for providing people with the skills to deal with life-threatening emergencies is as strong as ever. I love presenting the material in engaging, innovative ways, and keeping the attention of my students along the way. For me, being able to do something that I really love while providing a service that the community needs is a dream come true.

A three-year stint as a bull rider on the California open circuit also cemented my commitment to improving public safety. During my time training at the Morgan Hill arena, as well as in rodeos across the region, I saw the important role that first responders play, both in and out of the ring.

My family and my involvement in my community are also a huge part of who I am. I’ve been married since 2000, with two boys and a little girl on the way. My twin brother is also passionate about improving public health; he’s an MD resident at UC Davis.

Within my community, I serve as a volunteer on the boards of the Aptos Soccer Club and Aptos Little League, and as a volunteer coach for local children’s flag football, soccer and baseball teams. Giving back to the community is important to me and plays an important role in Above Bar CPR’s mission; that’s why we provide Free Fridays for adult CPR. You will find us on the streets trying to spread the word about Hands Only CPR. Places like the Boardwalk or downtown Santa Cruz. We are working to get CPR programs back into the schools as well as AEDs.

Why CPR

Imagine you’re sitting at home, spending a relaxing evening watching your favorite TV show with your family. Suddenly, your spouse stops breathing and is lying on the floor, unresponsive. They’re experiencing a coronary attack – do you know what to do?

Every year, more than 1.25 million Americans will experience a coronary attack, stroke or sudden cardiac arrest. About 600,000 will die; that’s about one person every four minutes. For both men and women, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. – and 88% of these coronary events take place at home or at work, rather than inside of a hospital.

Despite the prevalence of heart disease, only about one-third of Americans have training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) techniques that allows them to respond to a coronary event.

But here’s the good news: When performed immediately after a cardiac event, CPR and other life support measures double — or even triple – the victim’s survival rate.

And, with four of five cardiac events taking place in the home, statistics show that the life you save is mostly likely to be that of someone you love, whether a spouse, child, parent, or friend.

Learning how to effectively perform CPR – and other first aid measures, such as Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use – doesn’t just give you the confidence and skills you need in a medical emergency; these essential tools can also save the life of someone you love.

Disclaimer: Use of American Heart Association materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the American Heart Association. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the Association.